Campus News

Sanjay George, a Master of Science in Finance student at University of St. Thomas Cameron School of Business, was the first UST student to receive a $1,000 award from the United States China People’s Friendship Association at its gala on Nov. 8.

USCPFA is a non-profit educational organization, which seeks to help Americans know more about the business in China and vice versa.

“USCPFA’s mission is to build active and lasting friendship based on mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of China,” said Dr. Joe Ueng, chair of Department of Economics, Finance & Decision Information Sciences at UST.

USCPFA-Houston is one of the most dynamic and active chapters. It organizes many events and activities to inform its members with the latest news from China on politics, economics and education. It also created its scholarship program to encourage students to learn about China.

Dr. Hans Stockton, director of the Center for International Studies at UST, and Dr. Ueng recommended George for the USCPFA-Houston scholarship and also for a summer internship in China.

“George has had a passion for the Chinese culture and language, along with his outstanding leadership, maturity and strong motivation,” Ueng said. “He was the one of the best candidates for the scholarship and past summer internship.”

George completed his bachelor’s degree with a double major in economics and international studies from UST in fall 2011. He decided to pursue the finance industry, so he applied for the summer internship and was able to experience the field of finance for the first time at Beijing Ordins Company in China.

USCPFA has profiled George in its brochure, where he said, “Understanding the business norms in different parts of the world is especially important in today’s globalized world.”

Stockton said George is a real "renaissance man" with travels throughout the world, diverse interests, and multiple talents.

"He was an excellent student of international studies and, as a young professional, really putting his knowledge of the world and diverse cultures to good use," Stockton said.

Stockton said the Center for International Studies has benefited greatly from the collaboration with Nancy Li of the USCPFA, for support of a growing China study abroad program. The Cameron School of Business also hopes to pursue further opportunities for MSF students through USCPFA.

George’s summer internship was not his first exposure to the Chinese culture, but he had the chance to learn about the country through a study abroad expedition to Taiwan in 2009, when Dr. Stockton recommended him for the program.

“East Asia represents a new frontier for UST,” Stockton said. “Through the U-7 group, which is an offshoot of the International Consortium of Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas, we made first institutional contacts with Chinese universities, and UST is currently exploring the most efficient ways to expand into the mainland China.”